Liverpool caretaker boss Phil Thompson last night tipped his strike duo of Michael Owen and Emile Heskey to shine at the World Cup with England this summer.

Heskey returned to goal-scoring form with two in three minutes to help inflict this defeat on Leeds - their worst at Elland Road for almost two years.

After a drought of just one in 34 appearances for club and country, Heskey has scored three in his last two matches.

Owen's form has never been in doubt, and he took his tally to 20 for the season as the Reds completed their rout on the stroke of full-time.

Thompson believes the Owen- Heskey partnership, which has served Liverpool so well for so long, is the one on which England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson can rely once the World Cup starts at the end of May.

After watching Heskey score in the 61st and 63rd minutes, Thompson said of the 24-year-old: "I keep having to champion his cause. But I shouldn't have to if people knew football a bit better.

"He has been outstanding for us. Even when we went top of the league and he wasn't scoring goals, he played an exceptional part.

"What you get with Emile is that he never hides, but because he hasn't scored many goals he wasn't getting too many mentions.

"But his performances have been fantastic for the team and for the club."

Owen also came in for plenty of praise.

"As for Michael, he never stopped working and was another who also richly deserved to score," said Thompson. "I honestly don't see any problem with Emile and Michael playing together for England.

"There will obviously be other contenders. But they have played together for a long time at Liverpool and they link up well. I think that could tip the balance in their favour."